1,000 Mourners say goodbye at memorial service for Omaha police dog killed in the line of duty

[Omaha Steve]

REBECCA S. GRATZ/THE WORLD-HERALD

Officer Matt McKinney hugs his daughter after speaking in memory of his dog, Omaha police K-9 Kobus, on Thursday during a memorial service at Christ Community Church. More photos.

http://www.omaha.com/news/crime/mourners-say-goodbye-at-memorial-service-for-omaha-police-dog/article_c079696c-c45d-11e5-a0af-5face85bf832.html

POSTED: TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2016 12:51 PM | UPDATED: 4:57 PM, THU JAN 28, 2016.
By Andrew J. Nelson / World-Herald staff writer

Roughly 1,000 people attended a memorial service Thursday afternoon for Kobus, an Omaha police dog killed during a standoff Saturday.

“He did his job to protect and serve. And he helped his fellow officers make it home,” Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert said during the ceremony at Christ Community Church.

Kobus, a 9-year-old Belgian Malinois, was shot to death Saturday during a standoff near 83rd Street and Keystone Drive. Kobus was the first Omaha police dog killed since the unit was re-established in 1996. He had served as a police dog since 2008 was scheduled to retire in March.

The suspect in the standoff, Mark L’Heureux, 59, surrendered about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. He fired at Douglas County sheriff’s deputies late Friday and killed Kobus about 4 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.

FULL story and more photos at link. Video: Shield saved sheriff's deputy from being wounded or killed, chief deputy says: http://www.omaha.com/news/crime/shield-saved-sheriff-s-deputy-from-being-wounded-or-killed/article_9ad5f8a4-c3a1-11e5-a965-c7a2ab9597fd.html

Shield saved sheriff's deputy from being wounded or killed, chief deputy says: http://www.omaha.com/news/crime/shield-saved-sheriff-s-deputy-from-being-wounded-or-killed/article_9ad5f8a4-c3a1-11e5-a965-c7a2ab9597fd.html


Damage to a bulletproof shield used by a Douglas County sheriff's deputy during a standoff is apparent at the bottom of the shield and in the glass viewing area. It will cost $2,500 to replace the shield, an official said.

[Botany]

1. Good Boy! Good Dog!

[lunamagica]

2. Awww, how sad...

[renate]

3. that's so sad

Especially since he was about to be retired. The only bright spot is that Kobus got the respect and love he deserved. It's really nice that K-9 officers mean so much to everybody and aren't just taken for granted.

[840high]

4. ....